American Jewish Committee Honors Turkish President at Reception

Turkey has no minorities and no discrimination because of race, faith or language, President Celal Bayar of Turkey today told some 300 leaders of the American Jewish Committee during a reception tendered the President by the AJC. He stressed that the Turkish Constitution “admits of no discriminations” and bestows equal rights and duties on all the Turkish people, adding that Turkey has separated church and state.

Jacob Blaustein, retiring president of the Committee, presented the President with a silver medallion to commemorate his visit to the United States. In making the presentation, Mr. Blaustein praised President Bayar “because ever since his ascension to the Presidency in 1950 citizens belonging to minority groups, including the Jewish citizens of Turkey,” have enjoyed “real friendship and goodwill on the part of the government.” He also contrasted this situation with that of previous years when “Jews and other groups of non-Turkish origin had to face occasional difficulties.”

Irving B. Engel, who succeeded Mr. Blaustein as president of the AJC, and who presided at the reception for the President, saluted the latter for his “understanding and devotion to the principles of democracy.”